e Right-foot, bringing it near the Left, and putting back the
Left in Guard.

To make a Thrust in three Motions, being out of Measure, you must make a
double Beat, which is done by a small Beat of the Right-foot in the same
Place, beginning immediately with the same Foot to close the Measure.

The three Ways of retiring which I have shewn, are done from the
Situation in Guard. The two which are done after a Lunge are, first by
lifting and bringing the Right-foot back from the Place of the Lunge
behind the Left, and then carrying the Left behind the Right, in order
to be in Guard.

The late Monsieur De Latouche, and Monsieur De Liancour, found this
demarche better than the following one, tho' it is not so generally
used.

The second Retreat after having pushed, is made by drawing back the
Right-foot about the length of the Shoe, bending the Knees, in order to
be in a condition to chace or drive back the Left-foot with the Right,
keeping the Hams very supple, the Body free, and the Sword before you;
not only that you may spring the farther, but also to be in a better
Posture of defence. The Point of the Right-foot should come down first,
leaning immediately after on the Heel; the Left-foot must fall on the
Line at the distance, and in the Situation in Guard, as I before
observed, in order to be ready to take the Time, or to make a Riposte.

The two Masters that I have quoted, condemned this Retreat very much,
especially Monsieur De Latouche, who says in springing back, three
motions are necessary; first to draw back the Right-foot in guard,
secondly to bend the Knee, and thirdly to chace or fly back. Any Master,
will find that there should be but two motions, it being easy to bend
the Knees and draw back the Right-foot at the same Time.

Besides, his rule for springing back is false; for by drawing the
Right-foot back so far as in guard; you lose Time, the first Motion
being too long, and the Feet being so close together, the Body has not
sufficient Strength, and consequently cannot go far. From this it is
plain that three Motions are not necessary for springing back, there
being but two in all. He likewise says that the leaping back, requires
such an effort, that you have not Power to parry; but Experience
sufficiently shows that you may easily parry and spring back. Indeed on
a moving Sand, or slippery Ground, it is very difficult to leap back;
and if we consider things rightly, we cannot find our purpose answered